Identifying ordained users

[Snowbird]

By the way, this has already been asked:

Should monastic members be "verified"?

I wonder if it is worth considering verification and a requirement of disclosure for monastic members?

Edit to add: Moreover, do you really think being anonymous on the forum would be permitted if it was against the Vinaya?

You are concerned about creating bad karma by inappropriately speaking to a monastic. But by being anonymous on the internet, monastics protect lay people (in general, not you) from making all kinds of bad karma associated with falsely accusing them of Vinaya offenses.

[Pasanna]

I wonder if it is any more bad karma speaking badly to a monastic (if you don’t know they are a monastics) than speaking badly to a lay person. You are the owner of your karma. There is nothing mysterious about it.

Either way, people know that there are monastics here, and that this is Dhamma space. Therefor we should really speak to each other like we are in a monastery, involved in a group discussion where there are monastics present.

[Dharma]

People want to be treated like they are real people, most of all. You wouldn’t withhold food from someone unless you were inhumane, so it’s good to just treat everyone with the same kindness. Wearing a robe doesn’t mean one is Enlightened, and not wearing one doesn’t mean you are not. Anyone can follow sets of rules, and there are many who can’t because of circumstance, yet that does not bereft them from receiving the Compassion that comes from Buddhist Suttas. Can you be part of the living Dhamma, and give such Compassion to others yourself? It just comes down to one simple thing: be nice.

Buddha says in a later text, the Lotus Sutra, that there are no discrepancies in the words of the Buddhas. We can learn from this too. If we keep a mind cognizant on the medicine we receive from the Dhamma, we can portray a healthy mind towards those who practice the such said Dhamma, because they are our Spiritual Friends.

[Radius]

@Dharma

Wearing a robe doesn’t mean one is Enlightened, and not wearing one doesn’t mean you are not.

Agree, but I will still likely take something from someone I know is an actual monastic more seriously than some random internet poster. I assume that there are devout and knowledgeable lay people (although I don’t know any Buddhists irl), but for a monastic they have more skin in the game. It’s literally their full time job, even if that’s a slightly weird way to describe it.

@sabbamitta

How about using polite language, no matter whether someone is ordained or not?

Agree, but as above an ‘ordained’ user badge would affect how I listen/read more than how I speak/write.

[Malunkyaputta]

@Snowbird

basically, if you treat everyone with the same respect you would treat a monastic, then you can’t go wrong.

Just demanding the highest levels of morality from everyone seems too simplistic and unrealistic to me, Venerable. No one can constantly realize this ideal.

@Snowbird

It’s just to dangerous for a variety of reasons. And creepy, even with good intentions.

I am afraid I find this overly generalizing, too.

[Jhana4]

@Malunkyaputta

I would certainly like to guard my words a little more in discussions with a Venerable.

I’m not a monastic and I don’t play one on T.V. so you can tell me where to go.

Maybe speak to everyone with the same restraint?

You will get benefits.

[trusolo]

Thread closed. Conclusion:

@Pasanna

Either way, people know that there are monastics here, and that this is Dhamma space. Therefor we should really speak to each other like we are in a monastery, involved in a group discussion where there are monastics present.